CHARLOTTE, N.C. — As Charlotte City Council considers new district boundaries lines, a familiar voice in city politics says leaders should add a council seat.
"The city has grown enough to where it could accommodate 8 districts at this point," former city councilmember Lawana Mayfield said.
Currently, Council has seven districts plus four at-large seats.
"An eighth district could possibly help create more input from the community at large."
Mayfield, a Democrat, said Council should be politically representative of the city's voters. She is currently running for an at-large council seat.
"We have a growing number of unaffiliated voters in our community that doesn't necessarily feel like they're being represented," Mayfield explained.
Mayfield isn't alone in her push. Current at-large council member Braxton Winston has been vocal in supporting an eighth district seat.
"Why not add an 8th district while keeping four at-large, therefore providing maximum representation allowed by law," Winston asked in a tweet on Sept. 9.
Such a change looks unlikely. This week, a council committee released three redistricting proposals, all including the current seven seats.
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